Removal of Dissolved Copper from Polluted Water Using Plant Leaves

Ibrahim Diab Abu-Shqair's picture
Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient. 17 (2) 91-95
Year of Publication: 
2001
Authors: 
Ibrahim Diab Abu-Shqair
Department of Chemistry, An Najah National University, P. O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
Current Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry, An Najah National University, P. O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
Mohammed M. Al-Subu
Department of Chemistry, An Najah National University, P. O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
R. Salim
Department of Chemistry, An Najah National University, P. O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
K. M. Swaileh
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Birzeit, Palestine
Preferred Abstract (Original): 
Removal of copper from polluted water by plant leaves was studied using 15 species. Copper was recovered in variable percentages depending on the species and pH value of the solution. Copper recovery from a 20 mg/L copper solution ranged between 88% (in poplar leaves) and 33% (in oak leaves). For all leaves studied, maximum copper recoveries were found to be between pH 4 and 6 depending on the plant species. At pH 2 the copper was not removed by the plant leaves studied. Adsorption was suggested as the main mechanism for the reaction between copper ions and plant leaves with a reaction order equal to one.
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